Is PP good?

[stubbsy]

Here are two recent pics where I just can't work out what PP treatment brings out the image. This is my current take on them. To see a larger version, click the pic.

Do these work for you?

Edit: The original image with no PP added for both shots.

a Black and white opera house...







and a colour ghostly boat...

[MCWB]

Peter: B&W Opera House works, not sure about the cropping on the left hand side though, the edge isn't 'clean' for some reason?

The second shot doesn't work for me at all however: I look at the foreground, "nothing to see here", then look at the (nice) background. My interest is then kept by the background, which probably misses the intended point of the capture?

[Alpha_7]

Peter,

I like the first one, definitely a fine representation of our famous landmark.

The second one I'm not so sure on... the ghost bit seems super pixelated and it doesn't really do it for me.

(Do you have the orginals handy for comparison?)

Thanks,
Craig

[TonyH]

I really like the Ghost Ship. The opera House is just a little too tightly cropped for me.

Great work

Regards

Tony

[Matt. K]

Peter
Opera house works very well and is a fine image. As fine as any of the building I have seen . Second image is interesting and has some lovely elements, which you have picked up on...but falls over because the boat is not defined or recognizable. But a very nice abstract anyway.

[wendellt]

the ghost ship is excellent
in the frame opera house fitted snug under bridge, whilst the light trail from the ship brings the viewer in from the right and sets their attention firmy at the apex of the opera house bridge, what did you photoshop on the image? looks fine the way it is

[Alpha_7]

Hmmmm, looks like a divide audience

[chris1968]

hello stubbsy
love #1 - tight crops i like, simple images i like, black and white i love!
#2 did not do it for me on first glance but, the more i look, the more i like!

Chris

[mic]

Stubbsy, you should be in advertising with that 2nd shot

Love it ! Sydney in a nutshell to me.

Well done mate !

Mic.

[kamran]

1st B&W pic is real nice. And not so sure about the 2nd one.

[Nnnnsic]

I really love the second one.

[sheepie]

Peter...

Believe it or not I actually like the ferry pic! I didn't at first, but I've kept coming back to it through the evening and have now decided I do.
It has that clarrity which your pics tend to have (especially the ones from this outing), and the colours are at their usual vivid but accurate best. What I think it would benefit from though is seeing more of the Opera House. It just feels a little too cut-off for me at the moment.

The close-up of the Opera House has been nicely handled, if also a little too tightly cropped for my liking. I love the way you do B&W, simple objects with great attention to contrast and overall levels.

[stubbsy]

Some very interesting responses people. Thank you.

Trent - I hadn't noticed, but you're right about the untidyness on the left. It's part of another sail which I removed with the tight crop. I'll go back and fix this for my final version.

Craig - I'll post originals and my final rework tonight.

Wendell - second image was layered to bring up the background details without making the ghost ship too bright. I also bumped the sat on the background and less so for the ship (so it wouldn't be too orange)

One & all
The second pic is an odd one for me too. The divided opinions seem to confirm my own ambivalence about this image. Originally I had it marked as a reject, but something about it appealed hence this post. In fact I even considered entering it in the current movement comp, but decided it was a little too "out there".

[wendellt]

Peter

yeah i thought the ship looked to god to be true,usually under long exposure they are more orange in colour because of the irradescent lights they have on board. The blue tone contributes to the scenes elegance

the first opera house shot is not as good as the other white opera house image you posted months back, too much going on in the bottom left, the opera house should always be framed elegantly less glass more white sails in my opintion, I find framing 2 to 3 sails is enough you don't need more as you risk taking that 'standard' opera house shot. 'Less is more' keep things simple.

[stubbsy]

Wendell - "the first opera house shot is not as good as the other white opera house image you posted months back". Agreed - that one was shot in bright daylight (I'm assuming this is the one you meant)

Anyways as promised: I've update the top of the thread to show side by sides, plus below is a slightly less cropped version of the first one.

[sheepie]

this is much better Peter - and amazing to see it compared to the NEF!